Rail-anchor.



B. WOLHAUPTER.

RAIL ANCHOR.

- PPLI L 17.1918. 1,292,555. Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

3 EEEEEEEEEEEE 1.

'B. WOLHAUPTER.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION. FILED lULY l7. 1918.

Patented Jan. 28 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 B. WOLHAUPTER.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION BLED JULYJ 1918.

'1 ,292,555 Patenced Jan. 28, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3. l

UNrrnn srarES PATENT orrron.

BENJAMIN WOLHAPTER, OF ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

RAIL-ANCHOR.

T0 121 wlwm z't may concem Be it known that I, BENJAMIN W0LHAUP- TER,citizen of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in the county ofNestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rail- Anchors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to rail anchors, and has special reference to animprovementin that type of anchor which is permanently aflixed to a railby a welding operation or its equivalent.

A practical objection to rail anchors of the type which are permanentlyaffixed to a rail fiange, is that when it is desired to move the railsto a new location they are greatly in the way of handling the rail, orWhen it is found necessary or desirable to move or replace the ties, theoriginal spacing arrangement of the anchors on the rail is found to beentirely unsuitable, since they Will not have the same arrangement asthey had when originally applied to the rail. Furthermore if left on therail without performing the functions of an anchor, they are simply anobstruction Which is more or less in the way and can serve no usefulpurpose whate'ver.

It is' therefore a necessary practice to ont 1 away the anchoringelement which is permanently afiixed to the rail when the original trackarrangement is disturbed, and as these ancho1"ing elements arenecessarily of a substantia'l nature, considerable time, labor andexpense is involved in removing the same, and-occasionally a portion ofthe rail flange is broken oi in the removal operation. The foregoingobjections are not only confined to anchors of the single tie abuttingtype, but-also exist in connection With the strap-type of anchor whichis designed and adapted to engage a plurality of ties, as well as otherwell-known expedients which provide a permanent connection between theanchor and the rail fiange.

'Accordingly the present invention bas primarily in view the provisionof a rail anchor WhlCh as to many of its practical -forms may beec0nomically and expeditiously Inanufactured from ordinary stockmaterial, such as a steel bar, out and bent to proper form by simpleoperations, and which, furthermore, provides at some convehient point arelatively weak portion or spot which Will greatly facilitate the break-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 17, 1918. Serial No. 245,409.

ing or fracturing of the anchor at a predetermined location t0 efiectits removal from the rail, without leaving any part of the anchor in anobstructing position on the rail. Therefore, a novel and distinctivefeature of the present invention resides in the provision of a.railanchor structure which is so .designed that it will receive and readilysustain all of the strains which are imposed upon it in performing itsfunctions as .an anchor, While at the same time having a portion thereofwhich is relatively weaker than the rest of the anchor, either by reason01: the fact that said portion has less metal than'the rest of theanchor, or is otherwise properly weakened to accomplish the desiredfunctions. A rail anchor emboclying these features of construction Willpossess the distinct and important advantage of being capable oit'facile removal from the rail When desired to do away With the uselessoutlying or abutment engaging portion of the anchor, so that thereapplication of the rail or readjustment of the ties Will in no way beinterfered with or impaired.

It will thus be apparent that the invention is fundamentally concernedwth a rail anchor structure having a readily fracturable part which ofcourse is susceptible of embodiment in various forms to meet all requirements. In each case. however, the anchor structure which permits ofthe fracturable characteristic thereof is conserved, and for the purposeof illustration, several practical forms'of the invention are shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of aportion of a rail and a tie with ananchor constructed in accordance with the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the anchor after the tie abuttingportion has been broken away from the fiange engaging portion.

Fig. 4 is a peispective view of a modification of the invention whichinvolves an auchor carried by a tie plate, the anchor in this casetaking the place of the well-known type of tie-plate shoulder.

Fig. 4 is an outline diagram showing in plan the full tie plate havingthereon a pair of spaced anchoring elements constituting the rail fiangeabutting shoulder, the dotted lines indicating the rail position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4: shovving a modified anchor. L

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of an anchor which is welded to the edge ofthe rail fiange and projects laterally therefrom.

Fig.**7 is a further modification of the type of anchor shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a rail and a tie.showing atie abut ting anchor vvelded to the edge of the rail fiange anddepending below the.same.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view show1ng a 'urther modification of theinvention, the same general type of anchor being shown in this figui asin Fig. 8.

Similar reierence characters designate correspohding parts throughoutthe several figures of the draWings.

In carryingthe present invention into effect, it is proposed, aspreviously indicated, to utilize materials which may be readily formedand shaped to provide an anchor which Will have ample Strength topreventthe crceping of the rail, while at the same time having arelatively vveak portion or spot confined to a restricted location, andwhich under the action of a suitable tool or instrument, may be readilyloi0ken or ruptured 'to enable that portion of the anchor projeotingaway from the rail to be readily removed without damaging the railflange in any way, or otherwise impairing the usefulness of the rail.

The invention is o-bviously susceptible of embodiment in various formsof construction, capable of accomplishing the desired results, andreferring first to the construction shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings therail anchor here illustrated is designated generally as A, and consistsof an upper rail fiange engaging member 1 and an an gularly disposeddepending member 2 whioh carries an ofiset tie abutment element 3.According to the present invention the said meinber 1 of the anchor isseoured permanently to the upper side of the rail fiange preierably loysuitable fillet welding W or equivalent welding operation, and as Willbe =observed from the drawings this member 1 is provided at a suitablepoint, adjacent the bend which connects the inembers 1 and 2, with acut-away portion or slot 4- Which considerably reduces the amount ofmetal at the outer edge of the member 1 and pro vides the relativelynarrow 11nsecured neck portions 5 at each side of theanchor, thusreducing the amount of metal thereat and producing Weak spots at a pointwhere the member2 may be readily severedrom the rail fiange engagingmember 1. It Will of course be understood that any suitable means may beemployed to subject the member 2 to a force which Will either bend thesaine indicated -by the dotted lines or, if desired, a track chisel maybeused to rupture the tWo 1nembers at this point. Obviously theprovision of the relatively narrow. portions of metal at each side ofthe anchor causes the weakest part of the anchor to be located atsubstantially the point 00 where the sa1ne Will either bend under theinfluonce of the blows of a hammer or maul and thus break ofi', or bysuch other means as above set fortn, to thus Onl leave the relativelysmall portion 1 of the anchor fastened to the rail as shown inFig. 3.VThis part of the anchor when left on the rail Will not interfere withthe rail being readily handled and placed in its new position, orotherwise afiect the normal functions thereof in service.

The invention is also susceptible of appli cation to the anchorabutments carried by a tie plate as shown in Figs; 4: and 5 of thedrawings. According to this phase o:

the invention the rail anchor meinbers are carried by the tie plate inthe place of the usual rail fiang engaging shoulderso that the anchormembers Will not only perform the function of anti-creepersbut also takethe place of the usual tic-plate shoulder and or1n abutments againstwhich bear the edge 01: the rail flange. Inthe illustration of Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, one of these rail abutting anch-oring members isillustrated as projecting upwardly from the top surface of the tie-plateand said member includes a rail flange engaging portion 6 adapted tooverlie the rail fiange and to be fillet welded as at VV or otherwisepermanently secured thereto. Also the said anchor member illustrated inFig. 4: is provided with an upright shoulder element 7 against which therail fiange abuts and an arched or bovved connecting portion 8 ;be tWeenthe said shoulder element and the rail fiange engaging portion 6. Thisarchedor bowed connecting part 8 is arranged to clear the edge of therail lange and has formed therein au opening or cut-away portion 8 toprovide the relatively narrow connecting webs or necks 9 producing therelatively Weak spots or readily fracturable portions which permit oftheconvenient severing of the anchoring body along the limes aa Fig. 5illustrates a tic plate anchor wherein the rail engaging member 10consists of a relatively long narrow body of metal weld ed to the railas at W and connected With the shoulder element S of the 'tie plate by 7a narrow intermediate connecting web 11 which providesthe relativelyweak spotpermitting the convenient breaking away of the unsecured partof the anchor from the rail along thedotted line 32, at the same timeseparating the rail from the tie plate.

Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings show the pplication of the invention toanother type of-anclmr, naxnely a simple plate typewhich is weldcaddirectly-to theedge ;of .the rail and projects lziterally therfromtoabuttgainst a;spikg or similar abntmcnt. \In these figuresthe anchorplates A andA are united to the dge ofthe' rail-J flahge byx.a Suitable:arranged in relatively close proximity and in-parallelrclationt0thecedg of the anchor plate which is w'eldednfio therailflangc.

Fig. 8 of thedrawing shows.th application of theinvehtion t0 an=anchorof the same general type as shownin Figs;:-.and

v 7, but which, instead of-projecting laterall fro1n the rail flange,depends threfrom to abut against the sides of a tiennthe"like. Inthisf0rm the anclxo1-.A.cnsi5ts of a body plate 15 having at oneend.thereof an offset tie-aloutting fiange 16 while its upper edge 'issuitably beveled-or scarfed asat=l7 to provide a trough or valley forreceiving the Welding material which forms the weld W. According to thisembodiment, it is proposed to provide the depending body plate 15 of theanchor with a slot 18 whose longest side is in line with the base of therail, thus efiectively limiting the weakness of metal to the oppositeupper edges of the body 15 and also to a point where the least part ofthe anchor Will be left upon the rail after the severing operation,which takes place along the dotted limes w when the plate 15 issubjected to a hammer blow or the action of a suitable tool at thosepoints.

Fig. 9 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 8, the general position of theanchor bemg reversed. In this embodiment, the body 19 of the anchor A issecured to the rail n the same manner as set forth in connect10n withthe anchor shown in Fig. 8, that is by a scarf weld, but instead ofemploying a slot for obtaining the desired weak spot or readilyfracturable part the said body of the anchor is provided on the sideopposite the scarf and at a point lying in the plane of the rail baseWith a longitudinal groom :20. The formation of the groove 20 at thispoint of course facilitates the separation of the anchor from the railin a manner to be readily understood from the foregoing description,whereby the depending body plate 19 and its tic abntting flange 19 maybe removed.

In all .embodiments. of the" invention the relativoly weak portion orspot is arranged to have its lino orplane of gfreatest strength andresistanoe; disposed in the direction of therunnin of the rail to'thereby maintain the full e 'ciency of the anchor t0 rcsist creepingtendencies; saidline or plane of greatest strength and resistance beingprferably at right angles to the directionin which the weak part or spotof the anchor is readily responsive t0 a breaking strain for thepurposeS of the prescnt invention.

F rom the foregoing it Will be apparent that the present invention aimsto provide a rail anchor of thetype which may be permanently aflixed totherail and yet removed therefrom when necessary without damage to therail, and althongh nnmerouls modifications have been shown in theforegoing drawings it Will be'apparent to those familiar with the artthat the invention is susceptible of application to other similarstructures without departing from: the principles of the invention orsacrificing any of the advantages or structural features heretoforepointeddut; and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A rail anchor having ily fracturable part. 4

2. A welded rail anchor having an un a relativlly readseured'fracturable -weakened part adjacent he-Weld.

3. A rail anchor consisting of abutment engaging and rail attachingmembers and lhaving a relatively fracturable part ar ranged between thesaid rail attaching and abutment members thereof.

4. A rail anchor consisting of abutment engaging and rail attachingmembers and having a relatively fracturable weakened part arrangedbetween the said rail attaching and abutment members thereof and locatedadjacent the rail attaching member.

5. A rail anchor permanently carried by the rail and having a relativelyfracturable portion located adjacent its permanent union with the rail.

6. A rail anchor consisting of abutment engaging and rail attachingmembers, and an intermediate connecting part of less crosssectional areathan the said members.

7. A rail anchor having a relatively weakened part.

8. A welded anchor having a relatively weakened part in the unweldedportion to permit ready severance thereof from the welded portion.

9. A rail anchor having a relatively weakened part whereby the anchormay be readily severed for detaching from the rail.

10. A welded rail anchor having a weakened part whereby the anchor maybe read ily severed for detaching from the rail.

11. A welded rail anchor, including a part weaker than the rest wherebythe anchor may be roadily sovorod from the rail at that point.

12. A woldod rail anchor, inoluding a woakonod part near the odge of therail fiange, whoroby the anchor may be roadily sovorod. r

13. A rail anchor, including a portion with rolativoly smallcross-seocional aroa to allow for one -portionof the anchor be soveredfrom tho balance thoroof. 14. A railanchor pormanontly aflixod to arail, including a portion With rolativoly small cross-soctional aroaprovidod to allow for one portion of the anchor to be sovorod from thebalance thoroof.

15. A rail anchor consisting of rail fiango attaching and abutmontongaging portions and having a rolativoly fracturablo woakoued part forpermitting tho romoVal from that portion afiiXod t0 a rail fiango of thounderlying and abutmont ongaging pontion.

16. A rail anohor consisting of a rail fiango attaching portion and anabutmont 'engaging portion andhaving a rolatively fraCturiblo weakonodpart for porniitting tho removal from that portion pormanontly afixod toa rail fiange of the said undorlying and ab1itmont ongaging portion.

17. A rail anohor having a roadily fracturablo woakonod aroa whoso linoof groast .20. A rail anchor having a rolativoly woakonod spot whosolino of groatost re:

sist-anoe is in the direction of the running of tho rail, and whose linoor plane of least ro sistanco is atright angles theroto.

21. A rail anch0r having a rolativoly woakonkd spot whoso lino ofgroatost strongth is in the direction of tho running of the rail and-whoso lino or plane of leaSt strongth is at right angles thereto.

In tostimony whoroof I herounto aflix n signature in the presonco of twowitnosses. BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER.

Witnooses:

R. W. LICKIY, JOHN K. MCAVOY.

Copie o! this patent niay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 'of1atento.

7 Washington, D. G."

